Rubber skin doll



Aug. 12, 1952 D. J, M ER 2,606,398

RUBBER SKIN DOLL Filed July l0, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Aug. 12, 1952 D. J. MILLER RUBBER SKIN DOLL Filed July 10, 194'? 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 We-572ML 7ans/a JIM/Zei Patented Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE,

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RUBBER, SKIN DOLL Application July 10, 1947, Serial N0. 760,155

(Cl. I6-456) d Claims.

This Ainvention relates to a doll or similar article and a method of making same and is particularly concerned with a doll having surface portions simulating the feel of human skin and a preferred method of making same.

The objects of this invention include providing an article having a construction whereby portions of the surface simulate the feel of skin, and providing a simple method for making such an article.; and particularly providing a doll of pleasing appearance and durable construction in which at least the body and limb portions have surfaces simulating the feel of human skin. Other objects'will be apparent from the description which follows.

Dolls and similar varticles are conventionally made of life-like appearance fromthe standpoint of both shape and coloring. Such dolls are normally made from many materials including ilexible material such as vulcanized rubber or iniiexible material such as papier-mch, which may be molded into a life-like gure of the desired color. Itis desirable, however, to make the article in a manner whereby the article feels life- -li-ke, the illusion being created by providing a surface simulating the feel of skin.

I have discovered that a construction comprising an inner portion normally having the shape of the doll and a thin flexible outer portion overlying and ,conforming `to the contour of the inner portion but separate from and 'free to move relative tothe inner portion will provide a doll having a surface texture or feel which is extremely life-like.

.The doll or similar article embodying this invention-preferably comprises .a hollow inner shell of a vulcanized rubber, the shell being stuffed with va suitable filler material, and an outer layer of a vulcanized rubber Vpositioned over the inner shell `and lying contiguous thereto over substantially the extent of the inner shell but adhered to the inner shell in but .a few widely spaced local zones.

The method of making'a doll constituting a preferred embodiment of vthis invention is best illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in eleva-tion of a suitably shaped form immersed in a coagulant solution as the rst step in making a doll by the preferred method, the coagulant-containing tank being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is va View in elevation of the` coagulantcoated form immersed in rubber :latex whereby 2 an inner rubber shell is deposited, the shell and the latex tank being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the inner shell on the form after the shell is dried and dusted with soapstone;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation and partly in section of the treated inner shell being coated'with coagulant;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the immersion of the inner shell, mounted on the form, yin rubber latex whereby a thin nonadhering outer skin of rubber is deposited over the tack-free inner shell, the outer skin and the latexv tank being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the body portion of the doll after vulcanization.;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 'l-'I of Fig. `6;`

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view'of a nished doll embodying this invention, part thereof being broken away and in section for clarity of illustration; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in section of an alternative construction embodying this invention.

In the preferred method of makingk a doll embodying this invention, a form It is provided having the shape of the body and legs of the doll. The form may be of any suitable impervious material such as glass, aluminum, thermoset resinor similar material, but preferably comprises either porcelain or stainless steel. Form I0 is first coated with a coagulant for latex preferably by dipping the form in a solution of coagulant in a suitable solvent as shown in Fig. 1. Form HJ :is removed from the coagulant bath and the ad.- herent coagulant lm is preferably dried, either partially or completely, before proceeding further.

The coagulant composition employed in practising this invention may include any of the well known coagulants for latex, as for example water-soluble acids or polyvalent Vmetal salts dissolved in a suitable solvent. A saturated solution of calcium nitrate in acetone is particularly suitable.

The coagulant-coated form is then dipped into an aqueous dispersion of a vulcanizable rubbery material as shown in Fig. 2. The form ID is immersed in the latex for a time sufficient to deposit an inner shell Il of vulcanizablecoagulant preferably 0.025'Q.040 thick uniformly over form lil.

The particular latex employed is largely a matter of choice. For example, thelatices which may be used include natural rubberlatices or any suitable vulcanizable synthetic rubber latices including latices of such materials as chloroprene or isoprene polymers; copolymers of butadiene and similar materials with styrene or acrylonitrile or similar copolymerizable monomers; and other rubbery materials. It is only necessary that the material be deposited in a uniform impervious layer conforming closely to the shape of the form and preferably forming a resilient or desirably an elastic coagulum layer. The latex may, of course, also include the commonly employed vulcanizing agents and accelerators therefor, softeners, fillers, reinforcing materials, color pigments, etc., in accordance with known latex compounding technique.

Form I with its deposited inner shell II is removed from the latex and dried either in air or in an oven. The surface of shell I I is then treated to bring the surface into a non-tacky condition except in a few local zones such as the arm sockets I2, I2 and the neck portion I3 (Fig. 2). The surface treatment preferably comprises dusting the surface with a powdery non-tacky waterinsoluble covering material such as soapstone, talc, mica or similar material Which is relatively inert, or alternatively treating the surface with chlorine to bring it into a tack-free condition. During the surface treatment the arm sockets I2, I2 and the neck portion I3 may be covered by protective patches I4, I 4 which are thereafter removed. Similar protection may be provided for other local zones if desired.

The treated shell I I on form I is then coated with coagulant as previously described and as shown in Fig. 4. The coated article is dipped into the latex bath again as shown in Fig. 5 and maintained in the bath until a relatively thin outer layer I5 of the order of 0.0150.020 thick is deposited uniformly over the inner shell I I. The form I0 and its deposited coagulum layers II and I5 are removed from the latex and the coagulum is washed and dried. The thickness of the outer layer may be varied somewhat depending upon the material of which it is formed but is preferably substantially of the thickness described.

The dried inner and outer layers II and I5 are then vulcanized on the form in the usual manner. If desired, the neck portion I3 may be rolled back to form a bead I6 before vulcanization. During vulcanization, outer layer I5 fuses to inner shell I I only in those local zones of shell I I which were untreated, as for example, the arm sockets I2, I2. Over the remainder of the extent of inner shell I I, the outer layer I5 remains nonadherent and free to move relative to inner shell Il. The vulcanization causes outer layer I5 to permanently retain its close tting condition over shell II.

The vulcanized article is then stripped from the form I0 and is stuffed with a suitable filler material I'I such as textile fibers, rags, or similar yielding materials. Arms I8, I8 made in a similar manner are provided and attached to the body by any suitable means. A head I9 is provided and is attached to the body portion by any of the well known means of attachment. In the preferred embodiment, head I9 is preferably of papier-mch or similar inexible material such as plaster, clay, etc., and is provided with an annular groove 20 which engages rolled bead I6 of the neck portion I3. If desired, the head may be made of a vulcanzed rubber as set forth hereinabove or may comprise a single shell of vulcanized rubber.

In an alternative construction as shown in Fig. 9, inner shell 2l is of suflicient thickness to maintain its shape without the use of filler material and a relatively thin outer layer 22 is deposited thereover as described above after shell 2| has been surface treated.

The body and limb portions of the doll may be made as a single unitary article or may be made separately and assembled later as desired, The method is also applicable to the manufacture of articles other than dolls of human shape. Anmal dolls may be made in a similar manner; and if desired, simulated fur may be secured to the outer skin in any of the usual well known ways.

Articles embodying this invention are preferably formed by deposition of latex as set forth in detail. The inner and outer layers may, however, be made separately and the outer layer` then positioned over the inner layer in contiguous relation. The inner layer may be molded and then used as a deposition form for the outer layer or other similar methods of obtaining a laminated structure may be used.

Any nlm-forming resilient materialmaybe used in practising this invention so that in addition to the vulcanizable rubbers already enumerated such materials as plasticized polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride or similar materials may also be used.

An article made in accordance with this invention has surface portions simulating the feel of human skin. A doll embodying this invention is durable and of pleasing appearance. The doll or similar article is readily made by a few simple steps.

The invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a preferred embodiment and the method for making same but it will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected Within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A doll member the surface of which simulates the feel of human skin, said member comprising a resilient inner portion normally having the shape of said member, a layer 0f lubricant at substantially the entire outer face of said inner portion, and a thin flexible outer portion comprising impervious rubber-like material overlying substantially the entire outer face of said inner portion contiguous thereto and movable with respect to said inner portion, said outer portion being secured to said inner portion only at isolated local zones.

2. A doll, the surface of which simulates the feel of human skin, said doll comprising a head member and a resilient body member, said body member comprising a resilient inner portion normally having the shape of said member, a layer of lubricant at substantially the entire outer face of said inner portion, and an outer portion substantially completely overlying and contiguous to said inner portion and movable with respect thereto over substantially the extent thereof, said outer portion comprising a relatively thin flexible element comprising impervious rubberlike material and being adhered to said inner portion only in widely spaced local zones.

3. A doll member, the surface of which simulates the feel of human skin, said member comprising a thin resilient hollow inner portion normally having the shape of said member, ller material filling said inner portion, a layer of lubricant at substantially the entire outer face of said inner portion, and an outer portion' positoned over substantially the entire extent of and contiguous to said inner portion and movable with respect thereto over substantially the extent thereof, said outer portion comprising a relatively thin flexible member comprising a continuous layer of vulcanized rubber, said outer portion being secured to said inner portion only in Widely spaced local zones.

4. A doll having surface areas thereof simulating the feel of human skin, said doll comprising joined resilient body and limb portions and a relatively inflexible head attached to said body portion, each said body and limb portion comprising a thin-walled hollow inner shell of a vulcanized rubber normally having the shape of said portion, a layer of lubricant at substantially the entire outer face of said shell, a yielding ller material lling the interior of said hollow inner shell, and a relatively thin outer layer of a vulcanized rubber substantially completely overlying said inner shell and movable with respect thereto over substantially the extent thereof, said outer layer being adhered to said inner shell only in widely spaced local zones.

DONALD J. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

